Amnesty ruling criticised

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's order granting amnesty for people who committed politically motivated crimes in the violent run-up to this year's parliamentary elections has been widely condemned as "rewarding" perpetrators of human rights abuses and perpetuating the cycle of impunity.

In terms of Mugabe's order, those persons liable for criminal prosecution and whose guilt or innocence has not been determined by a court, will be granted total amnesty for any politically motivated crime committed during the period 1 January to 31 July this year. In the run-up to the parliamentary elections in June, at least 32 people were killed, most of them opposition supporters.

Legal experts said the amnesty does not, however, apply to murder, rape and theft charges, but crimes such as assault, arson, public violence and extortion would be pardoned.

A statement by Amnesty International described the order as unjust and unacceptable. "This pardon represents a lost chance for justice and the possibility of breaking the cycle of impunity that has riddled Zimbabwe," said Amnesty, adding: "The order provides no deterrent either to continuing human rights abuses or contempt for international human rights law."

The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), a consortium of Zimbabwe's civic groups, accused Mugabe of abusing his powers to "reward" supporters of his ruling ZANU-PF party for a violent election campaign against opponents. "The ruling party is rewarding the political thugs who made it possible for it to win the elections," said NCA. It added that it would meet shortly to decide on action to protest against the amnesty.

Zimbabwe's political violence started in February after Mugabe's government was defeated in a constitutional referendum which sought to increase presidential powers and seize white-owned farms without compensation. A group of liberation war veterans led ZANU-PF supporters in controversial farm occupations that was accompanied by violence and intimidation against farmworkers and owners.